Jesperi Kotkaniemi has played two games in nearly two months

Raphael Simard
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has played two games in nearly two months
Credit: Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images

The Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Brady Tkachuk saga is over.

One is throwing his teammates under the bus, and the other just isn't playing well. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has played two games over the past two months. The Habs should have avoided both of them, then.

He played on March 4 against the Canucks, and his penultimate game was on February 5. Rod Brind'Amour clearly has no confidence in him.

It's hard to change a winning formula…

The Hurricanes lead the Metropolitan Division with a record of 47-21-6. But despite that, changes due to injuries, illnesses, or other factors are possible. KK simply isn't playing.

It's true that Carolina has great offensive depth, but still…

(Credit: Daily Faceoff)

The Finn is making nearly five million dollars a year through 2030 just to sit on the bench.

He has nine points in 37 games this season.

The Canadiens are on a good run, no doubt about it. But with a bit of bad luck or if “the stars don't align,” as Renaud Lavoie would say, Montreal could very well face the Hurricanes in the first round.

That would likely be without Kotkaniemi. On Tailgate, Lavoie specifically said he'd really like the Habs' chances in a potential series between the two teams. Martin St-Louis's squad has won all three games this season against Carolina.


In a nutshell

Good news.

– Goal by Cole Hutson.

– Great moment.

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